Thumb-sucking preventer



E. B. KELLY.

THUMB SUCKING PREVENTER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-27, 1917.

Patented July 6, 1920.

ERNEST BYRON KELLY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

THUMB-SUCKING PREVENTER.

Application filed August 27, 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST BYRON KELLY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Thumb-Sucking Preventers, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

The invention relates to devices whereby thumb or finger sucking infants are prevent ed from practising this habit.

The device employed to accomplish this end designed to prevent the infant from forming its lips around the thumb or finger suliiciently close to create any suction when sucking of the finger or thumb is attempted.

It is an object of the invention to produce an arrangement which is simple, inexpensive and sanitary, which permits the hand of the infant to be washed with the device applied thereto.

A further object is to construct the device so that same may be adjusted to accom1nodate hands of different lengths and sizes, thus necessitating the purchase of only one device which may be properly arranged according to the growth of the infant, and also lessens the number of devices which a dealer would be compelled to carry in stock to accommodate the trade.

An added object of the invention is the production of an arrangement whereby the free use of the finger is not interfered with when the device applied; thus the infant may pick things up and use its finger with out hindraiuze, which results in that the infant not forced to use its other hand, which in some cases would. cause the infant to resort to use of the left hand to perform servires ordinarily performed by the right hand. This would, in most instances, be objectionablei A further object is to accomplish these and other objects in a simple and expeditious manner without rcsultin in a corresponding reduction in eiliciency. i

-"he invention will be more readily understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows the device applied .to a hand;

F 2 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 1;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 6, 13. 20.

Serial No. 188377.

F 3, 4 and 5 are modified constructions embodying the invention.

in the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2, same is shown as comprised of the bracelet. 10, finger ring 11, and bar 12 connecting the bracelet and ring. The bracelet 10 is of .y suitable adjustable type which may be locked in adjusted position against removal from the person. The brace let shown in the drawings has one end provided. with a series of apertures 13, through which is passed the member 14 to which is applied the lock 15, which prevents separa tion of said ends and removal of the device. The construction shown employs a means whereby the bar 12 may be adjusted to thumbs of hands which vary in length and size, thereby permitting one device to answer for the growth of the hand of the infant, and also eliminates the necessity of a dealer carrying in stock devices of various sizes. The means herein shown whereby this relative adjustment may be accomplished includes a lug 16 which is integral with the bracelet 10 having the internally screw threaded portion 17, into which is threaded the screw threaded end 18 of the bar 12. This bar 12 is illustrated in Fig. 1 as corn prised of the portions 19 and 20. The portion. 19 has secured to it the finger ring 11 and has its lowermost end provided with the threaded portion 18. The portion 20 of this bar is bent outwardly and downwardly at 21. and has its extreme end attached at 22 to the portion 19 of the bar 12. It will be noted that these portions 19 and 20 are spaced apart at the bend 21 a consideral'ile distance, and are somewhat wider at this point than the remaining portion thereof, and consequently will prevent the infant from closing its lips around the thumb to form the seal to produce the sucking action sought to be accomplished. It will Iurther be noted that the bar generally designated 12 only extends a short distance beyond the first joint of the thumb, leaving the end thereof free for use in handling articles,

such as spoons and so forth, while feeding, and also that the lowermost portion of the bar is substantially perpendicular to the bracelet to approximately the point 22, where the portions 19 and 20 are bent laterally a suitable distance to follow the natural position of the thumb. The ring 11 is preferably of a somewhat greater dimension than the size of the thumb. This adds to the freedom of the thumb and also to the sanitary feature thereof.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 3, the structure of the bar 12 is similar to that shown in Fig. 1, only differing in that the end 20 is split into two portions 28 and 24:. These portions are separated as indicated at 25, to further hinder the lips in being formed around the thumb to prevent the sucking action from being accomplished.

In the device illustrated in Fig. 4: one end of the bar 12* is attached to the bracelet and the other end is attached to the finger ring 11, and is bent outwardly somewhat and again bent inwardly to form the portion 26 which is separated from the ring 11 producing the same result as that gained by the structures shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 5, the bar generally designated 12 is hingedly connected to the member 31 which is threaded into the screw threaded portion of the sleeve 32 which is secured to the bracelet.

Having thus shown and described various forms of the invention, what I claim and desire to cover by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the class described the combination of a bracelet, means for engaging a member of the hand and a member extending between the bracelet and said means, said bracelet means and member being connected together to produce a rigid construction for thepurpose specified.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a bracelet, a member extending therefrom, the end of said member remote from said bracelet being bent to form an enlargement, and being divided and separated at said enlargement, and means provided upon said member whereby said member maybe secured to a portion of the hand.

In a device of the class specified, the combination of a bracelet, a member extending therefrom, the end of said member being bent to form an enlargement and a ringsecured to said member, said ring being substantially smaller than the bracelet.

4. In a device of the class specified, the combination of a bracelet, a member eX- tending therefrom, said member being bent, and separated at said bend to form an enlargement, and a ring secured to said member.

5. In a device of the class specified, the combination of a bracelet, a member extending therefrom, the end of said member remote from said bracelet being enlarged and a ring secured to said member between the ends thereof.

6. In a device of the class specified, the combination of a bracelet, a member extending therefrom, the end of said member remote from said bracelet being enlarged, a ring attached to said member between the ends thereof, and means whereby said member may be adjusted with relation to said ,member being bent intermediate its ends to' form an enlargement, the opposite end of said member being secured to the member between the enlargement and the end which is secured to the bracelet, and means provided upon said member whereby said member may be attached to one of the members of the hand. a r r 8. A device of the class described comprising in combination, a bracelet constructed to be secured to a hand and having an adjustable member extending therefrom along one of the members of the hand, the member which extends from the bracelet being shorter than the member of the hand along which it extends and having means whereby the same may be attached to the member of the hand along which it extends, said first mentioned member forming a rigid connection between the bracelet and said means.

9. A thumb sucking preventer comprising in combination, a bracelet, a member one end of which is securedto the bracelet, said member being formed to produce an enlargement and having an end attached to said member between the enlargement and the end which is secured to the bracelet, said member extending at an angle to the bracelet and having a member whereby same may be attached to one of the members of the hand.

10. A thumb sucking preventercomprising in combination, a bracelet, a member one end of which is secured to the bracelet, means provided upon said member whereby same may be attached to one of the members of the hand, said member having an enlargement and said member being pivotally connected to the bracelet.-

11. A thumb sucking preventer comprising in combination, a bracelet, a member one end of which is secured to the bracelet, means provided upon said member whereby same may be attached to one of the members of the hand, said member having an enlargement, and said member being pivotally connected to the bracelet and being adjustable with relation thereto.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this'Tth day of August A. D.. 1917.

ERNEST BYRON KELLY.

WVitnesses O. M. VVERMIOH, HAZEL A. J ONES. 

